At Long Last, The Trailer For ‘Shada’, The Lost ‘Doctor Who’ Episode Is Here

37 years later, it’s finally here… ‘Shada’, the lost episode of ‘Doctor Who’, written by famed sci-fi author Douglas Adams, which originally intended to air in 1980. The episode featured Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor with his Companion Romana, played by Lalla Ward. This legendary episode was partially shot but shut down due to a strike at the BBC and never fully completed.

But the new version is considered the definitive presentation of ‘Shada’ with animation filling in the parts that were not filmed for the original episode and Baker and Ward reprising their roles. The animation comes from the same team that created the 1966 serial ‘The Power of the Daleks‘.

Check out this trailer to get a feel for how the original live action looks with the animated sections:

‘Shada’ was previously released in 1992 on VHS, with Baker narrating the missing parts. In 2010, Ian Levine privately financed a version similar to this one, using animation to fill in the missing scenes, but that was unsanctioned. Big Finish produced an audio drama of the original script with Ward reprising her role, but Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor filling in for Baker’s Fourth. And there have been other adaptations in novel and audio form as well over the years, but as stated, this is considered the definitive version.

‘Shada’ will be available on digital platforms today, November 24 and on DVD and Blu-Ray on December 4, but I believe these dates are only valid in the U.K. It will be released as a two-disc special edition in the U.S. on January 9, 2018.

If this release goes well, there is speculation that animation could be used to present other adventures using Baker as well as possibly other Doctors, since many of them frequently contribute to other Big Finish audio dramas. Recording an animated special would be a similar experience for the actors.

Jason Motes

Jason's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes. Jason's father gamely agreed to read him comic books as bedtime stories instead of 'Snow White.' (Super Friends being his favorite.) Jason saw all of the original Star Wars movies (and Indiana Jones and Superman and Star Trek...) in the theaters. Yes, he is old. And grew up in the most GEEKTASTIC decade ever, the 80s, devouring a steady diet of GI Joe, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, Princess of Power and (best of all) Jem! (It totally counts as sci fi! They had a sentient computer that projected holograms!) Jason has studied literature, journalism, film history and has a degree in creative writing (and a minor in psychology) from the University of South Alabama. He has worked as a technical writer and proofreader. These days, most of his creative energy goes into his blog and writing for this site! He lives with the cutest puppies ever.